Creative Design: Graduate

Architectural Bloom: Villa Palladio in Fabric Form

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Abstract

This garment, "Architectural Bloom," transforms the sensory architecture of Villa Palladio, a heritage boutique in Jaipur, into a sculptural textile experience. Drawing from the villa’s vivid palette of reds, greens, and golds, the design uses sustainably sourced cotton, both hand-block printed and red-dyed, to embody the space’s atmosphere. Block printing, a traditional and eco-conscious surface technique, anchors the design in regional craftsmanship and slow fashion values. Triangular forms reference Jaipur’s location in India’s Golden Triangle and echo Indo-Islamic architectural motifs. Laser-cut apertures inspired by jaali patterns (lattice screen) allow embedded LED lighting to recreate the glow of sunrise and sunset as seen through the villa’s arches. This integration of traditional craft with digital fabrication and lighting technology creates a dynamic, wearable archive of place, time, and memory. The garment bridges cultural heritage with contemporary design practice, inviting viewers into a tactile and illuminated story of architectural influence and sustainable innovation.

Keywords: Villa Palladio, block printing, laser-cut, embedded lighting

How to Cite:

Vallabhajosyula, M., Chen, C. & Bernardoni, J. M., (2025) “Architectural Bloom: Villa Palladio in Fabric Form”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 82(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.21567